Woman shot at H-E-B when shopper drops concealed gun

PHARR — A Tuesday night grocery shopping trip took an unexpected turn when a shopper dropped a concealed handgun, in turn unintentionally shooting another shopper.

Pharr police released a statement Wednesday afternoon about the incident at the H-E-B located at 1300 S. Cage Blvd, providing few details about the ongoing investigation.

Police said a 22-year-old woman was “shot in one of her lower extremities” due to negligent discharge by the gun owner.

Officers were called to the store at approximately 10 p.m. and the woman was transported to the Rio Grande Regional Hospital for treatment. Her condition remains unknown.

H-E-B only allows concealed licensed handguns in its stores, said spokeswoman Linda Tovar, a policy displayed on signs posted at the front entrances.

It is unclear from the news release whether the gun owner had a concealed carry license and police did not return requests for comment.

“At H-E-B we strive for safety in all areas of our stores and parking lots,” said Tovar. “H-E-B is committed to providing a safe environment for our partners and our customers.”

The company is working closely with law enforcement to assist the investigation, she added.

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